By Stephen Enatu
Twelve suspects accused of participating in the March 6 attack on Jozan Nursery and Primary School today presented their sureties before the Soroti Chief Magistrate’s Court as part of their bid for bail.
However, Chief Magistrate Hilda Bakanasa Kalaga postponed the ruling on their application to May 29, 2025, keeping the group on remand.
The accused individuals include: Osege Joseph (22), Obura Solomon (23), Egumu Joseph, Okiror Emmanuel, Odongo James (29), Okello Stephen, Akiror Norah (31), Ogwel Juma (20), Olipa Moses (25), Idakun Sam (21), Okol Joseph (18), MP Joan Alobo Acom, and Obonyo Mark The state alleges that the accused torched the school’s infrastructure, including a canteen, furniture, and learning materials.
The suspects, who are jointly charged with arson, malicious damage to property, housebreaking, attempted theft, and theft, were first brought to court on March 10.
The charges stem from a violent protest that followed public anger over the unresolved murder of Joan Faith Apio, a young girl whose body was discovered in a pit latrine. Prosecutors claim the group torched school property and stole items worth more than Shs5 million.
Their legal representative, Moses Okot Junior Bitek, called for transparency in the judicial process, urging the court to disclose all evidence in the case.
He noted that today’s adjournment was understandable given the large volume of documents before the court, and that judicial officers need sufficient time to examine them before ruling, he remained optimistic that the bail ruling would be favorable when delivered later this month.
Bitek also pointed out that the May 29 court date aligns with another politically sensitive matter in which he represents members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) over the “No Cow, No Vote” protest, allowing him to follow both matters closely on the same day.
He criticized the prosecution’s preparedness, highlighting that this is now the second time the state has failed to present witnesses. He emphasized that under Section 71 of the Magistrates Court Act, failure to prosecute could lead to dismissal of the case, which he said would be a desirable outcome for his clients.
He dismissed the state’s disclosure as laughable, arguing that the majority of the listed witnesses are serving officers who should be appearing as professional witnesses but are instead being presented as primary witnesses, he said he is ready to cross-examine them in court should they appear.
Meanwhile, Soroti City MP Joan Alobo Acom, also implicated in the incident, remains out on bail, She faces an additional charge of incitement to violence, accused of mobilizing the crowd that allegedly destroyed school property during the March protest.